Coloring time

Lollipops!

2011-11-22T22:53:00.002+01:00

nom nom nom

it's always Spring in Holland

2011-09-13T20:54:00.002+02:00

❤

and every day,

2011-09-07T23:23:00.001+02:00

don't forget to stop and smell the flowers :)

Meet Rippa

2011-09-07T21:09:00.003+02:00

He's a Parisian bear who doesn't do drugs, reads Conan Doyle, and prefers Christina Aguilera over Britney Spears.

and he's a real hipsta'

it took them a week...

2011-08-19T22:01:00.002+02:00

but they finally opened

you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously) her first rose

Happy Birthday to me!

2011-08-12T16:03:00.000+02:00

They surely know what's good for you :)

they got to be an odd number,

2011-08-03T10:04:00.001+02:00

he says.

Snow Fight!!!

2010-12-02T22:28:00.003+01:00

There was a snow-fight at CERN yesterday, or so it was planned. I, unfortunately wasn't there. Buh Arely! However, the view from my window makes up for it =)

Our favorite CERN landmark is now a giant snowball!!!

ファンタグレープ

2010-10-08T16:52:00.003+02:00

... although I must say, the best Fanta I've tried is, by far, cream-soda (only available at Canada and Sri-Lanka O_o).

Tofu-mania is back

2010-06-08T16:18:00.002+02:00

Someone, please, please, please, get me one of these!!!

I'm afraid they'll be "going on sale exclusively in an edition of 300 at the gig in Hong Kong next week on the 16th". This is a very sad day. I was terribly happy, and 30 seconds later, I was very sad =(

Wien

2010-04-18T18:40:00.001+02:00

Find the difference

2010-03-31T17:06:00.001+02:00

Ha! I got my own Mika's Coke bottle!

PS Ignore the crazy petit prince stuff.. hehehe

I love postcards!!!

2010-03-20T22:15:00.002+01:00

... from all over the world... Thanks H ;-)

Yeah, it is what it looks like...

2010-03-08T18:18:00.001+01:00

You can find this amazing product here.

What consumism does to you...

2010-02-18T16:03:00.002+01:00

No. Seriously. I need one of these. I don't want it. I need it.

... and this week

2010-02-16T20:52:00.004+01:00

12th Simposium Internacional de Física @ ITESM-Mty

David Griffths will be there. I won't be there. Yes. David Griffiths as in 'the guy who wrote all the books we used in undergrad (or not)'.

Bunsen @ CERN

2010-01-28T00:00:00.004+01:00

The characters of Bunsen were at CERN! O_o!

Bunsen is a Mexican web-comic by Jorge Pinto. It's basically about 2 Mexican scientists, an RA and some lab-animals. I personally love "Diana" (the blue bird). Mainly 'cause she's blue =P Although I think I can be more of a combination of Diana and Orvil (the pink rat). Anyhow, visit the site =)

And ne forhtedon na

2010-01-23T16:15:00.001+01:00

Only after (more than) one year... here it is

CERN under snow

2010-01-20T00:26:00.002+01:00

* The picture was taken by Nir. It has been published without permission of the author. I did warn him (does it count?)

First Collision seen by ATLAS!!!

2009-11-23T21:17:00.002+01:00

Ethics Training

2009-10-19T18:15:00.002+02:00

quite considerate, I must admit...

Strange Weather

2009-09-16T19:24:00.003+02:00

and other musical discoveries.

The twilight of my camera (or how I spent four days walking in London)

2009-07-29T00:56:00.003+02:00

Pictures from the road trip along Baja (when we were camping on the beach shore and stuff)

2009-07-29T00:17:00.004+02:00

Proof that I was in a concert, when I should have been working

2009-07-29T00:05:00.000+02:00

The unbearable lightness of watching videos (of a concert you weren't at)

2009-07-28T01:30:00.054+02:00

Eres

El Puñal y el Corazón

Chilanga Banda

Esa Noche

Ingrata

María

Como te extraño

Las flores

El baile y el salón

Déjate caer

Bailesín del final... (snif)

Llegó el Café Tacvba,

2009-07-28T00:50:00.004+02:00

Pa' que todo el mundo le meta al taconazo con nosotros.

Proof that I hang out with Medieval "dudes"

2009-06-11T11:30:00.000+02:00

Proof that I have magnetic words (and that I misuse them)

2009-06-11T11:02:00.002+02:00

Proof that I have Mika's SONG FOR SORROW LIMITED EDITION BOOK AND EP

2009-06-11T10:38:00.005+02:00

Proof that I have a ticket to ride

2009-06-11T10:38:00.003+02:00

Proof that I have a new office

2009-06-11T10:37:00.004+02:00

Red umbrella, Red tomatoes

2009-06-07T20:20:00.001+02:00

Proof that I have a red umbrella.

Proof that my red umbrella has a turtle (and that I eat tomatoes).

Cool people, making cool stuff

2009-05-25T16:42:00.003+02:00

http://www.particlezoo.net/

Science made art... or visceversa.

Infamous

2009-05-16T01:13:00.001+02:00

Hm... How is this supposed to be fair???

Alephy

2009-05-08T23:08:00.003+02:00

I might be a terrible fighter... but she is not (I do hope so)

http://alephy.elbruto.es/

Good night... Good fight!!!

Post Card blow up

2009-04-27T23:33:00.001+02:00

For future references...

TGC big wheel

2009-04-02T19:20:00.002+02:00

And finally... she meets ATLAS.
Actually this is not the whole ATLAS, but the outermost TGC wheel of the Muon Spectrometer (in the EndCap). Oh, the excitement! It's actually quite exciting to finally SEE the muon chambers you're monitoring... and to be able to identify them!!! (woow, I guess this actually made up for my sort-of crappy day)

Safe surfing

2009-03-06T18:21:00.002+01:00

I just thought it was funny to think of some sort of update to make me safer on [whatever-you-can-imagine].

In the mean time

2009-03-03T08:02:00.001+01:00

I'm the black sheep of my kleenex box (or it's just that the kleenex box is my new best friend this week).

Fruits

2009-02-22T12:40:00.000+01:00

Mangoes from Brazil. Clementines from Spain.

Depressant for the annoyingly cheerful

2009-02-20T15:05:00.002+01:00

So... do I need this?

Bobsledding (preview)

2009-02-15T13:35:00.003+01:00

White stripes

2009-02-08T16:22:00.001+01:00

No snow man was hurt...

Raclette

2009-02-01T00:13:00.002+01:00

On how I got green starts

2009-02-01T00:06:00.001+01:00

Using a start-shape cutter.

Spanish Souveniers

2009-01-19T19:39:00.004+01:00

Random "stuff" from Spain.

Not so random. Not quite just stuff... who hasn't heard of Mafalda or the LHC? (If you haven't, you should wikipedia them)

Randomly looking for an example...

What a life!

2009-01-09T01:31:00.003+01:00

snow carefully everywhere decending

2008-12-11T07:39:00.001+01:00

before St. Jodard

2008-12-07T13:57:00.003+01:00

This looks surreal... the sky and tree... how could I know what's real...?

In increments of 1 degree

2008-11-24T00:04:00.002+01:00

Who's up for the useless updates?

Update on the weather

2008-11-23T23:10:00.002+01:00

Just thought I could upload a new image.

Zero degrees has never been so much fun... or has it?

How 'cool' can it be?

2008-10-25T00:27:00.003+02:00

This morning, following the routine of checking the weather, I was surprised by this:

Wednesday might or might not be an interesting day. Too soon to tell, I guess. By the way, I check the weather everyday in order to decide what to wear... quite a useless practice, I'd say, I mean, I don't really differentiate between Summer and Winter clothes.. I guess I can tell about the weather by the number of layers I wear.. but even for that there's an asymptotic behavior for temperatures below 15 Celsius.

The tulip I cried for

2008-10-19T23:24:00.003+02:00

I found the white (perfect) tulip I had for a couple of days, (more than) a couple of months ago.

Que puis-je faire? Si je peux tout faire, mais je ne veux que regarder et regarder.

Or sing.. I could sing. I want to sing. (I've been reading old posts, in case you were wondering what on Earth I'm talking about.) I want to feel like singing. Somedays, I do feel like singing, so I sing. Can I make it happen tomorrow?

By the way, I might or might not have an apartment for the coming week. But, as soon (not "as soon" though) as I have an apartment, I should get myself another tulip.

Would I cry if it died? I think I would.

Blackall Project

2008-10-10T23:34:00.003+02:00

I've been checking out Mika's posts (whenever there's one available) lately, and he came out with this brilliant idea, where he and a friend interchange letters, I should say drawings, in which each one make a contribution... it has just started, and, in reality, Mika's initial contribution wasn't much of a drawing...
Or so I thought, until I saw her (Sophie Blackall's) first reply. She's brilliant.. a genius. I was not expecting something as clever as this. Honestly!.. She turned Mika's simple letter into something lovely, and wonderfully magical... Don't misunderstand me, I'm not judging Mika's contribution (how would I dare doing that? =P).. it's just that I completely adore the way she transformed something ordinary into something with so much magic in it! I wish I could meet her.

(Btw you can go to Mika's blog and see the details there, if interested... there's a link at the bottom of this blog.)

I think I would like doing something like it... unfortunately I'm not much of a 'drawer' (cartoonist, perhaps, it's the best term... or not), so must think of a sweet spin of the game...

Today

2008-09-16T21:59:00.002+02:00

to the most beautiful butterfly of my conservatory.

For you.. y los demás que aguanten. Hermana, te amo.. siempre serás mi niña favorita.

the answer to life the universe and everything

2008-09-13T00:02:00.001+02:00

and today it's all about:

2008-09-11T23:50:00.002+02:00

Remembrance of Things Past

2008-08-29T13:30:00.003+02:00

I just thought this message was a beautiful image... even before reading it. Aside from the content it reminded me of happy moments.

I can only think of one more message that made me think how beautiful a language can look. This language. Yellow. It was yellow.

Raspberry Fields Forever

2008-08-25T21:47:00.002+02:00

A little 'bite' of last weekend hiking experience.

Quite an experience: bumpy music, eatable porcupines, peachy peaches, ups and downs (quite literally), green, blue sky, and cows, cows, cows... lots of them.

"Stupid enough to be lucky." VERY lucky.

Things you learn only when you turn 25...

2008-08-15T15:41:00.002+02:00

Abstract art, by my best friend: mi hemanita.
I forgot the rest I learned. Maybe not.

Best Mont Blanc view ever.. not really

2008-08-06T13:29:00.005+02:00

Well, it is the best view of Mont Blanc since I got here. It's actually quite impressive from building 40 (at CERN.. not quite from my office though.)

I've been walking ~1hr (one way) from/to home to/from CERN the last couple of days, 'cause my bike had another problem (I know! it's a new bike, this isn't supposed to happen... but it does... so what?)

This time is was more "spectacular" than the usual flat-tire problem, luckily nothing bad happen to any of us (actually Eme was riding the bike.) Let's just say that the chain ended up completelly entangled 0_o.. don't ask me how that happened... probably a loose screw (bike's screw, not Eme's.. in case you were wondering.)

Anyway, the repair will be charge-free (still within the warranty) but it'll take 15 days (one more thing that won't be in time for my birthday.)

The point is: it really doesn't matter, 'cause I love walking... and with this view, how could I complain?

How I met M

2008-08-03T23:09:00.004+02:00

How I met Emery? I guess I shouldn't go through that story (again.) I can only say I know her...

After having her visiting for more than a couple of days, I feel Mika-mood is just the beginning of something better I can be. There are questions. There will always be questions. Fears, doubts, hesitation, anxiety... those will always be there. But, why should we worry, why should we care? Isn't this great enough? No.. isn't this beyond greatness? This is all it is, right now.
And I hope she knows it, but she's (unquestionably) in my top ten list of favorite people I've met.

(with love, to my personal musical guru... Gracias M!)

Still in Mika mood

2008-08-02T09:00:00.002+02:00

I've found myself reading Mika's blog not as often as I thought I would do the first time I "discovered" it. Anyway, the point is: I want a TOFU doll*!!!! Hahahahaha... I'm still in Mika mood, oh how lovely he is!

Although, to be honest, I mainly watch the videos, 'cause you never know, he might be writing now, but at some point some one else might start writing for me, and that change will be sad... Lovely indeed!

* Mika has a post on these dolls. He's actually assembling one in it... I wish I were the fan who sent that to him. Well, actually no. I don't like being a fan. I just like Mika.

OK enough Mika for a while.... Not really!!!

Can't say I don't work

2008-07-26T13:26:00.002+02:00

And here I am, in the ATLAS Control Room.. how cool is that?

Chronicle of a Concert Foretold (sort of)

2008-07-24T17:37:00.010+02:00

(this post would be a much better video, just 'cause what I write here I'm actually singing it.. so just imagine me singing... that shouldn't be too hard, since I'm usually doing it all the time anyway!)

Sweet Dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody is looking for something

Sweet Dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody is looking for something

Relax, take it easy
for there's nothing that we can do
Relax
There is an answer to the darkest times.
It’s clear we don’t understand but the last thing on my mind
Is to leave you.
I believe that we’re in this together.
Don’t scream (SCREAM!!!) there are so many roads left.
Get yourself to he butterfly lounge,
find yourself a big lady
big boy, come on around
and there we're gonna do baby
'cause I don't care if I ever talk to you again,
this is not about emotion,
I don't need a reason not to care what you say,
or what happened in the end.
This is my interpretation,
And it don't, don't make sense.

Brown...Oh Billy Brown.
Don't let the stars get you down.
Don't let the waves let you drown.
oh, oh, oh - Is there anybody home?
who will believe me, won't deceive
me, or try to change me?
ah, ah, ah - Is there anybody home?
who wants to have me, just to love me?
stuck in the middle.
I could be brown
I could be blue
I could be violet sky
I could be hurtful
I could be purple
I could be anything you like
gotta be green
gotta be mean
gotta be everything more
erase my love
I bet you can't erase my touch.
you're trying to replace, a feeling without a name
with somebody's face
in your head
I prayed for Johnny but now Johnny prays for me
I prayed for Johnny but now Johnny prays for me
Used to love me
Now you hate me
See I drove you crazy

This is the hardest story
that I've ever told
No hope, or love, or glory
Happy endings gone forever more
I feel as if I'm wastin'
And I'm wastin' everyday
I said everybody's gonna love today,
gonna love today, gonna love today
I said everybody's gonna love
today, gonna love today,
anyway you want to, anyway you've got to,
love to love me, love to love me
HEY What's the big idea?
Yo, Mika!
I said sucking too hard on your lollipop
oh, love's gonna get you down
I said sucking too hard on your lollipop
oh, love's gonna get you down
Pour que tu m'aime bien, pour que tu m'aime bien...
It’s as if I’m scared.
It’s as if I’m terrified.
It’s as if I’m scared.
It’s as if I’m terrified.

Oh God!! I feel my heart beats so freaking fast just to think about it... And I won't even mention how crazy it was in the concert right before Mika's (let's say Arely was jumping and pushing everyone hahaha.. as everyone else-> we are your friends. You will never be alone again!... gotta do what you gotta do to keep your place, and yourself alive =P )

I believe I traveled all the way from Mexico just to see him... I'm happy I did.

Btw, I know the quality of the videos/photos sucks, however, consider this: I took them with my cell phone... not so bad ah? Just to show I was close enough to get that view (and excited enough to not pay attention to the pictures I was taking).. hm I wished I'd had a camera, but that morning I was so nervously excited about the posibility of being able to get the ticket, so when I left home I barely remember to take the laptop with me... But it's OK with, just seeing him is more than enough... Oh, how much I enjoyed it!!! Didn't matter to be back home at 6 am, sleep 4 hrs and go to CERN afterwords... 'cause I don't care!!! and I don't need a reason not to care!

Ticket to ride!!!

2008-07-23T09:42:00.000+02:00

I will be brown, I will blue, I will be violet sky!!!!

There's no secret ingredient!?!

2008-07-19T21:44:00.004+02:00

The past is history, the future is a mystery... but today is a gift. That's why is called present.

I was happy even before the movie started (well, it's no secret I love watching trailers!) And I have to say it was just the perfect movie to watch right now... a simple, trying-to-make-you-happier movie... I love movie theaters!!! Even if I have to pay 17.50 SFr.

And guess what?! There is no secret ingredient.. it's you!

Gotta love Kung Fu!!!

US-LHC

2008-07-14T12:05:00.003+02:00

Where am I? where am I? Hahahaha.. this is the way it works in High Energy Physics experiments... By the way, it should be easy to find me. Since we were late, we couldn't find a spot at the center...

Life outside CERN

2008-07-13T13:43:00.005+02:00

There's a universe of small things out there. Fortunately, I get to pass by it everyday.

Today, I found myself in a desert called Cyberland...

2008-07-12T19:19:00.004+02:00

Today, I had a "cultural experience" at downtown Geneva. Enough of cultural experiences for a while.

At some point I realized where I was, or what was happening, and it didn't seem funny for much longer.

I decided not to take pictures.

Prague

2008-07-08T23:09:00.004+02:00

Prague, classical style.

Prague, Arely style.

Hm... I just don't understand the world I live in... and as far as I can see, I can not change it, and I know, 'cause I've tried.... not sure if enough though.
(Oh! and I tried to steal one of those posters... but failed, so instead, I stole a real communist poster. )

... and this one goes to you (my dearest, Juan Jesús) por aquello de los recuerdos que nos asaltan sin aviso... los bellos recuerdos. On pourrait presque...

Ma chambre a la forme d'une cage
Le soleil passe son bras par la fenêtre
Les chasseurs à ma porte
Comme des petits soldats
Qui veulent me prendre

Je ne veux pas travailler
Je ne veux pas déjeuner
Je veux seulement oublier
Et puis je fume

Déjà j'ai connu le parfum de l'amour
Un millions de roses
N'embaumeraient pas autant
Maintenant une seule fleur
Dans mes entourages
Me rend malade

Je ne suis pas fière de ça
Vie qui veut me tuer
C'est magnifique
Etre sympathique
Mais je ne le connais jamais

Laussane

2008-06-28T20:25:00.003+02:00

...yet to know...

Dessine-moi un mouton

2008-06-22T19:34:00.001+02:00

Here it is.

And then you wonder where the cheese comes from... Wait! This is not a goat. OK. Never mind.

Geneva downtown

2008-06-22T15:52:00.007+02:00

It could be anywhere.

But it's here.

It could be any moment... But it's this one.

I could have written something more descriptive, and less dramatic... But I didn't.

Bikeless... again!!!

2008-06-18T23:05:00.005+02:00

I won't even go into the details, 'cause this is getting boring pretty fast. But yeah! this ain't good. I'm afraid my good luck is over... that makes me wonder.. what did I do to make it go away? I need to rewind all the way back to the end of the semester. For instance, I should have packed ahead of time... and all those last minute things... I should have. I didn't.

* * *

Arely feels her knees are failing. Figuratively.

* * *

I still only travel by foot and by foot, it's a slow climb,
But I'm good at being uncomfortable, so
I can't stop changing all the time

Rather sooner than later

2008-06-17T19:01:00.004+02:00

Quite officially. Not only have I requested authorization (more by education than actual duty) but we had been bold enough to buy our flight tickets and make our hotel (continental breakfast included) reservations. Of course, do not believe this new European version of mine is making more money than usual. Absolutely not. Well, technically I am, only than my expenses have increased proportionally. My point is, I'm still monetarily hurt by the bike (also, my knees are still hurt, if you wonder), however, it's Summer... and it's Prague. Let's say it's my early birthday present... until I find something more attractive to give to myself.

* * *

Arely just thought of this. If you were thinking of a nice birthday present for her (I don't think anyone is thinking about that...), she might find another wallet quite useful... to keep Swiss francs apart from Euros. Dealing with money here is not that simple.

* * *

This has been quite a peculiar day. Uphills and downhills. I guess biking from/to home is like life (just like a box of chocolates is.)

Rain

2008-06-16T22:27:00.004+02:00

I used to like rain. I don't know any more. Today, it's been raining nonstop. Because of that, we had to walk to the nearest bus stop (~2Km) to go to CERN by bus (to be able to carry an umbrella, otherwise biking meant getting there completely soaked.)

It also meant that we had to go back home earlier. I still had lots of work to do, and thought I could continue at home, but the internet here is so slow, that it takes forever to connect to the CERN server (not to mention to open any of the applications I need.)

I'm not sure if I still like the rain. I guess I do, just not when I live 5Km from work, and can't afford getting there all soaked.

* * *

I spent some time this last Sunday biking around Freney-Voltaire (the town next to ours.) The only things opened were a small cafe, and a local theater. Sunday can be quite sad when you live far away from everything, and have no plans.

Hopefully, in a few more weeks, we'll be going somewhere far enough... Let's hope our plan works out... I might be heading to one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, or so I've heard. Any guess?

* * *

Today I feel a little overwhelmed. Or, maybe I'm just thinking too much, but there's nothing else I can do while I wait for my connection with CERN to be reestablished. I think I feel like crying since several days ago, but I haven't been able to. Maybe 'cause I know that if I cry, no one will listen (or care, for that matter.) I can see how little I've grown up the last few years, and the time difference doesn't help much.

Find yourself!

2008-06-15T00:02:00.001+02:00

One more try! One more try! One more try!

2008-06-14T20:16:00.006+02:00

This is my bike. And that is the road that takes me home.
It's obviously gorgeous (although I wouldn't like to take it in Winter.) We gave each other a second chance today. Everything worked out much better. Actually, I'm writing this against my better judgment: I fell twice today, and I notice that I have lots (more than 3 at least) of bruises in my legs. But it felt much better... and that's all that matters.

I guess.

* * *

Arely is still afraid of biking on the road, 'cause whenever she hears a car coming she panics! But, it's much better than biking in the city... potentially running over innocent pedestrians.

* * *

I believe that making turns is not my specialty... yet. By the way, no one told me about the nontrivial difference between biking uphill as opposed to biking downhill. Non trivial at all. Right now, I'm just tired, and glad to be back home safe, without any major injuries, and with the bike in one piece. I think it's time to find a name for it.

* * *

Oh, and we found another street market. This one is at Freney-Voltaire. Quite nice. Got some apricots, yogurt, tomatoes, and zucchini. Btw, she can't give up yet. Not quite yet.

I have a bike... with a flat tire.

2008-06-13T21:08:00.007+02:00

I just can't believe this. I left my bike next to the hostel building at CERN and two days later (i.e. today) I come back for it (ready for my new "bike adventure") and there it is, with a flat tire. I know nothing happen to it the other day, since I barely used it, but still, the tire is completely lost. How am I suppose to interpret that? Is God, destiny, life or "the force" trying to stop me to ride the bike?

I don't know. In the mean time, I made my advisor come home earlier, to give me a ride. Now, we're at the apartment we'll have for the Summer, without wireless connection (only an ethernet cable, which doesn't serve more than one computer at a time.)

Probably I just wasn't ready to bike back home. Who am I kidding?!? How can someone have this much of bad luck...? or whatever that is...

* * *

Arely thought this was funny, at first. At least it released her from the "responsibility" of biking home. Now that she thinks about it more seriously, she's kind of mad. This is definately not making this any easier.

* * *

I still have my T-Mobile phone line. Eventually I'll have to get rid of it. Maybe I'll keep it for a couple of days. At this point, I can't but feel that this bike issue is preventing me from having some sort of bike accident.

By the way, I not only have one room for myself, but a room with a couple of twin beds 0_o! Anyone interested in visiting? Actually I don't know. The room/bathroom distribution in this apartment is kind of odd. We have two rooms upstairs, one room downstairs. The room downstairs has a "private" shower. Upstairs there's a bathtub (no shower curtain) and there's only one toilet downstairs.

Ah, and we found a coffee pot, but not the coffee maker. Everything is weird today. I need some time to process it. Today my advisor asked me how was I feeling about living her. How am I feeling? I haven't had time to think about it. One thing is certain (and I said that to him): "I don't particularly love America.. so I was glad I was finally moving out of there." Besides, the moment was perfect.. had I stayed any longer, my whole spirit would have collapsed... At this age (I'm old enough to use this expression)... I need to learn to give up, and so I'll do.

Although, I won't apply that to the bike... not yet!

I have a bike

2008-06-11T13:23:00.003+02:00

So what? What's the big deal about bikes, anyway? I don't want to sound too pessimistic, or unhappy in any way, but everything that could have gone wrong today, went wrong. I woke up late, which means I couldn't talk with my family as I've been doing these days (7am here, is 10PM there, the only suitable time for both sides.) The elevator in the building is broken, not a big deal when going down from the 4th floor (consider that here, the numeration of the floors starts at 0)... not so funny when coming back after completely failing with the bike (more about it below.) We took the bus to the closest stop to the store... and even though it was ridiculously close we got lost, and my "French" was completely useless... Once we got into the store, I totally misunderstood the explanation about the price, and thought the bike was 350 (after a "discount"), when in reality it was 450, after an "extra charge".. I understood "moins", not "plus".. I don't know. While waiting for one of the bikes to be assembled, the fire alarm went on, and we had to evacuate the building. Pas drôle!!! And then, back inside... I made the cashier pretty mad, 'cause only 'til then I realized of the price misunderstanding...

The worst: "riding" the bike. I'm not even sure if I can use that term, "ride." You see, some of you might already be aware of my "difficulties" with bikes, but the truth is that you have no idea of the extent of them. Even though my family claims I've used one before, I wouldn't be so sure that I actually managed to ride it. Most likely, as with the roller skates, I tried for some days, and then I gave up. It's not like I'm proud of it, but right now I have no choice but to admit the biggest trauma of my life (oh yeah! it actually is.)

Well, since we couldn't take the bike with us in the bus, we had to "bike" back to CERN. It was just one of the most ridiculous episodes of my entire life. Consider this: I am a ridiculous person... that's how ridiculous it was. Apart from crashing over some (many) bushes, I managed too only hurt the tendon in the back of my right knee. Now, I can't even walk... not that I was any good at it before.

The sad part is that, I can't say I succeeded in biking. The biggest achivement of the day was when we finally got close enough to CERN and took a country road (as advised but the nicest lady ever... who walked us, so we wouldn't get lost) and managed to bike for longer intervals... slightly more successfully when going down hill.

Then, back to the office.. and deal with wrong compilations... I really need to catch up as fast as I can in all this new stuff.. but, I also need to slow down... I've been here for one week, and I'm already spending the whole day in the office.

* * *

Arely is, as usual, being unable to draw the line between working too much, or working hard enough.. or working.. or not.

* * *

I will have to keep trying... Hm. I can't be tired of trying already. To be honest, (after a good cup of coffee) I started to think that I'm just thankful that the situation is such that I have to learn to ride the bike.. otherwise, I could have gone my entire life without doing it. So, in the end, after the pain and sorrow, I might actually say that this day made my life a little better.

Building 40

2008-06-10T21:29:00.003+02:00

I think I wrote this before. I can be found at 40 2-D15 (probably back then it was 40 2-D11.) This is a picture taken from my desk, towards the center of building 40, where people working at ATLAS and CMS (mainly) are. There I am. Second floor.

The view from the second floor is much better than it looks in the picture. But well, I'll try something else later. The weather has been much nicer the last couple of days. I was even able to partially appreciate Mont Blanc today.

Summer is quite busy for people at CERN, with all the visiting students... and this year particularly... if we want to start that "thing" this year, I guess. I was told I'll do some shifts by the end of June, and beginning of July. Basically, I'll be somewhere for about 8 hrs and see that everything works as it should. Of course, since we're not collecting real data yet, this is more like a simulacrum of data selection and stuff. Actually I'm not sure what I'll do in those 8 hours. .. but, I have a twiki page with the instructions, so hopefully I'll know by then.

Honestly, I didn't feel this day was as productive as yesterday, but I still feel kind of tired. I really hope tomorrow is better, 'cause it's quite probable that I'll take a life changing decision... But, hey! it's me... any "life changing" decision can't be any serious... or can it?

Almost yellow

2008-06-09T21:56:00.003+02:00

Today was a relatively busy day. Not much to say... except that I skipped dinner, and treated myself with

right before going back to work... Oh! Please, do notice the flavor... it's all that matters. I'm so in France. I mean, Switzerland... next to France.

* * *

Arely has being working hard today. Or not.

* * *

Yellow as the ice cream I had. I already started looking for the apartment I'll live in, beginning September, 'til nobody knows...

Partially blue

2008-06-08T12:18:00.003+02:00

Today was the first time (at least at a fully conscious level) that I see a piece of blue in Geneva's sky. Quite promising for the days to come. I was told hiking in Geneva was really popular, and I'm thinking in trying that.. eventually.

Oh, and about the apartment: I think this is the perfect moment to start something frightening. Or not. Well, I might not have a choice. We'll see...

It's been almost a week, and I wouldn't call it "adaptation time." Starting to work (or at least try to) isn't such a bad idea to get used to a new place... although it might be tiring.

I went to France, and got no stamp on my passport! What a fraud!

* * *

Arely can be found in her bed, with an extra blanket, 'cause it still doesn't feel like Summer... even if we had some random rays of light in the morning.

Arely believes that, for good or for bad, eventually, she'll stop counting the hours... thinking of the past time of hers.

She'll stop counting the hours, thinking of the past time which doesn't belong to her anymore.

And at some point, she'll just not belong to that past time. Or not.

* * *

I believe that Geneva lives in the future... After all, we're MET, compared to CST or PST.

Bread, Cheese and Wine.

2008-06-07T21:43:00.003+02:00

Maybe not the wine. Yet.

Probably, I should have taken my camera with me today, when we went to the street produce market. I'm simply gonna say that I loved it!

I am terrible as a tourist. I never get to see any of the main attractions of a city... and if I do, it's never been 'cause I planned it. What I enjoy doing is walking the streets, imagine myself as a person living in the city I'm visiting, and eventually, take some pictures, to remind myself that I am a tourist, and that I'm not really behaving as a local. Then, you can imagine how much I loved going there.

Today we walked on the Old Town. A lot of up and down hills (after two years at the cornfields, I was forgetting those), some people wearing soccer (football, for the civilized countries) jerseys (the EuroCup just began today, and Switzerland is one of the two host countries), and yes!, lots of people in the produce market. It wasn't as big as I thought it might be, but it was "traditional" enough. I found many exotic fruits, things that I don't find in the tropical paradise that I believe my country is, lots and lots of cheese (I'm definitely not a cheese expert... yet), bread, and multiple kinds of marmalades and honeys. In all the excitement, I even got some figs... good enough, I hadn't had any fresh figs in a long time.

I imagined myself going back every Saturday, asking for this and that, in French, of course, and felt that this is a great first step into becoming some average Mexican girl in Geneva. Or not. My ability to be average is always in doubt. Sometime I am. Sometimes I am not. Sometimes I try hard not to be. Sometimes I just can't help it. In any case, I love bread and cheese!

* * *

Arely had bread and cheese for lunch today. She's been eating her roommate's cereal, which is quite good, and haven't tried any wine here. She still feels that it will take some time to get used to this HUGE change. She was able to practice some French at the market, and I would say she is absolutely satisfied with the results. She's close to find out how far the summer apartment really is.

* * *

In our way back from downtown to CERN, I heard some español in the tram. I don't know why that's relevant.

* * *

Sure. The color. Let's say it's orange, like the passion fruit I saw today for the first time in my life.

Black and White Civilization

2008-06-06T18:50:00.006+02:00

I've gotten the impression that CERN is a surprisingly civilized place (apart from all the bureaucratic issues), at least compared to Loomis (Physics Department at UIUC.) Here are my arguments.

First:

When I need to go down there, I don't literally need to go down there. I explain. Unlike Loomis, the CERN offices building has equal number of bathrooms for men and women. Quite impressive. So, there's one bathroom in the floor where my office (I should say desk, since it's not quite an office) is at. Compared to the 4th floor of Loomis (where my office was), which only has a men bathroom. Sexism at its most. Maybe not.

Second:

CERN understands the maturity and sense of responsibility of everyone here. This can be seen in, at least, two situations:

---Second.First:

---Inside the cafeteria, and without any restrictions, they offer (I should say, sell) beer and wine.

---Second.Second:

---Inside the bathrooms (not sure yet if this is exclusive of CERN or Switzerland) one has to push a button, and keep it pressed 'til its function is done. I explain. The WC's that knew 'til now had a predefined amount of water discharged. On the other hand, here, the user is responsible of deciding the amount of water required, which leads either to a waste of water, or a reasonable use of it.

Third:

There's a tradition of buying coffee for the colleagues, in a more or less alternative way. Quite nice. I believe this encourages good relationships... and coffee consumption. But, let's be honest, it's not like I particularly need that encouragement.

Fourth:

Macs are all over the place. I won't say more on that.

* * *

Arely can be reach by the soon-to-be-usual way quite early. Impressively early. Like today. Oh! and she's visiting a produce market tomorrow morning... and having an extra official meeting... on Saturday!!!

* * *

She hasn't been in France yet (still living in Switzerland) but hopes to visit the new "apartment" some day this weekend. And hopes it's not too far from here, 'cause she can't have a car (for the usual reason)... and well... the alternative: a bike... hm... for the usual reason.

Besides... biking for 20 min in Winter?.. not precisely a happy ride.

Getting here

2008-05-26T02:13:00.001+02:00

Dublin is green...

Maybe it's the wrong image I have from Unofficial Day at UIUC, but Dublin (Ireland) seemed to me quite green. Although, I only had the chance to be at its airport. Maybe, I also got some influence from the airline I traveled with, which proudly showed of the green colors. The overnight flight wasn't as tiring and desperately long as I was preparing myself for.

...and Geneva, gray.

Whoever mentioned the similarities between European and Mexican bureaucracy must have had some experience at CERN. I've been here for a couple of days, and already felt the differences between the straightforward procedures in USA, and the "helical" methods at CERN. For instance, I haven't been able to get internet access from my computer, 'cause I need to register it first. But I can't do that before completing my own registration at the User's Office, which is inconveniently closed Wednesday morning... so, if I'm lucky, that will be completed tomorrow, and everything should go smoothly from there. Or not.

As expected, Geneva has been rainy the past few days. Althought, I have to admit, t hasn't gotten to the point where it becomes a problem, besides, I'm currently living in the CERN hostel, which is located at a few meters from the office building. Ah, and don't tell anyone, but I got an umbrella, which I used today, without feeling a traitor of the sure-we-do-love-the-rain club.

CERN could be described as an entanglement of confusingly numerated buildings, which are equally confusing (internal halls that seem to go nowhere.) But, hey, this is about to become the world's largest accelerator in a few months! I could also say that is rather cozy. I definitely like that. There're lots of people from everywhere. I get to listen to as many languages as my brain can process (at least I overhear a couple of semi-understandable conversations.)

Tuesday afternoon, a couple of hours after arriving to the hostel, I went to my first meeting at CERN (it happened to be the internal UIUC meeting) and I have to say, I never imagined how amusingly critical was the situation of trying to connect at the poorly equipped conference rooms at CERN. Now I feel I understand the difficulties other at CERN have encountered in the past, while we were comfortably waiting for them at Urbana.

Oh please, don't misunderstand this post. I'm doing everything but complain about the last couple of days. I'm certainly enjoying my time, and looking forward this challenging experience (that sounded rather fake and elaborated, but I felt it natural... am I becoming fake and elaborated? Don't think so.) I admit it's kind of frightening to realize how things are going to change, an how I need to keep up with work, while dealing with new personal issues.

I do believe every new place, unquestionably, represents a new me. Most of the time, I've failed in making this new me, a better me. But, you never know, this might actually be the one and only chance to improve myself, or simple loose myself (along with those wrong do's that come with me, whatever this means.) Or not.

Right now, I have to finish my registration, take some trivial safety training (I know, they shouldn't be trivial, but apparently they are), and of course, get my computer to connect to the CERN web, o I can finally start working in what I was already assigned to.

* * *

Much for two days.

* * *

Arely can be found at 40 2-D15 temporarily, but eventually she'll move somewhere else. She believes in the magical power of speaking another language (even if badly), and likes Tequila better than Vodka, as any honest Mexican. She can be reached by the usual method, and would be thrilled to have news from the people she's already missing... or missing even more (for those whom she's been missing for more than a while.)

* * *

Having written that in a hopefully generally understood language (I don't doubt your reading but my writing abilities), I wish no one thinks wrongly of this (unlikely temporal) decision. At least, I'm not writing in some ineligible characters, or even worse, some ineligible thoughts.